The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-25

that you would have thus handed over
this money!" This counting of dollars
and repetition OF the same words lasted
several minutes. The spectators expected,
with much anxiety, an explosion OF wrath;
but the bulldog did not even snarl.
Not long after this incident, another -oIc
more severely tested Sierlain's nervous an
ritability. II was on u Mardi Gras eyenin e
Davis saloons were crowded, and Sterlain
was in jubilant spirits; lac even cracked
jokes, for the roulette was winning largely.
The stakes had been high, and confined
solely TO u few players; in whose ventures,
on count OF their magnitude, the numer-
Gus by-standers felt keenly interested. So
absorbing was it that the small fry Of
gamesters nbstained from risking their
petty dollars and gold pieces, and gazed
with a sort Of awe at the heavy pile Of
banknotes that accumulated in front of the
croupier as a rich harvest under the reap
er's sickle. The excitement was at its
hight when, Just as midnight struck on
the bell Of the neighboring cathedral. there
stood side by side with those magnatcs OF
the roulette-table, without anybody hay
ing noticed how he came there, a gentle
man apparently twenty-five years of age.
~ ," YUM w. AlflfAA ~ 80 bAAH W. bAAN
compel instant attention. He was Of middle
hight, fragile and spare body, elegantly pro-
portioned in form. Ills features were al
most feminine and of classic beauty, and
yet ut the very first glance there could he
detected in them an undcfnablo expires
sion which gave warning that under this
mask of ~softness there lurked something
to he guarded against-hard iron or sharp
gtaal tNttl IN gpkaaln.a Of NnlV.l ~ Glib
Intensely black we're his hair, the beard
on his upper lip, and his lustrous eyes.
Black WAS his whole dress from head to
foot, its neatness evidencing the unmis-
taxable cut OF the fashionable artist. Black
coat Of the finest cloth WIS buttoned up TO
his chin, and showed TO advantage his
statucsque bust. Altogether there could
not have stood in any princcly hall a more
arislocratic looking parsonage. A poet
would have called him the god OF dark
ness.
This siranger--for nobody present knew
him seemed to abstract himself complete
ly from his surroundings. and for a while
looked intenlly at the gaming-board, Us il
he meant To imprcgnate IL with the mag.
netizing fluid Of this will. Then, suddenly
addressing Sterlain. in front Of whom he
had stationed himself: "Sir," he said in
Spanish, with n cour bow and u mt
steal but somewhat metallic voice, 'arc
the stakes limitcd?' "No," answered the
surprised %cr0upier. The unknown DELHI
cratcly took of his right glove, showing a
hand which u woman might have envicd,
with long nails ~eXquisltcly shaped aud
pearly in color. With ii he drew out an
apparently well filed pocketbook Of black
morocco, oramcnted with gold clasps.
lie extracted from ii Il few bank-notes,
which he laid on the table saying calmly.
"My deal is for $1,000" An electric
shock seemed TO have struck the bystand-
ers, and a thrill shot through every ones
heart that almost stopped It's beating.
The wheel turned. Tho bank lost.
Take your plunderl' shouted Sterlain
with an oath.
"No. Let IL stand. / 60 the whole"
The ball was again set in motion, and
again fortune favored the Spaniard, who
by this time had become the only player,
all the rest gazing with absorbing interest
at the terrible duel which had evidently
begun between the two a~dycsarics. I'm.
used TO such bad luck and TO such crush.
ing loss, Stcrlain appeared 10 bc beside
himself, and, growing like an angry mas.
till, jumped up. Excuse me, gentlemen, "
hc said; 81 am out OF funds. and must ap.
ply TO Mr.. DAVIS 10 replenish tho bank"
A few minutes elapsed, during whiah
the spectators remained clustered together
in profound silence and staring ut the
lucky gambler, who meanwhile, without
taking the slightest notice OF the surround
ing crowd, kept his eyes steadily iixed on
the roulette, as II buried In the deepest
meditation.
Sierlain returned with his hands full.
"Why have YOU not removed your trash
and cleaned the board?' he said gruily to
the stranger.
Because" snid he, ~ choose TO leave
IL where IL Is and stake the whole"
Sterlain turned very pale aud breathcd
heavily. as II something pressed against
his chest. Afghan the ivory ball OF fate
twirlcd In the bowl Up started Sierlain,
frenzied with ragc, 10 got another supply
from those ample funds which Davis and
his associates always kept In reserve. On
his coming back Sterlain wa NO democrat
lied that all he could say 10 his adversary,
on whom he cast n bewildcrcd look, wis,
in a tone OF frightened interrogation.
well, what neXtp'
81 stake all | have on the board" was
the short reply.
Round and round won't tho roulette, and
for the fourth time the mysterious stranger
Won. The total gain Was enormous.
"Iho bank Is completely broken, and
closes for tonight Sierlnin announced W
a voice with emotion rendered almost in
arliculate; and, yaulting over the table, u,
rushed upon the Spanilrd. brandished hii
closed fists, and exclaimed: "In the fou
iicnd's name, what have you eaten todayG
The stranger had rctreatcd n few steps n
the sight Of the threatened assault. and
stood still, waiting for q closer approach
With a dclicatoly sardonic smile on hii
lips, with n look which irozc the blood o
the spectators, and made Stcrlain reel bach
rs II n stilottO had struck him full In III,
chest, the Spaniard, with perfect cOmpos
IRE, answered In his rich native language
"If you are, amigo milo, Interested II
knowing what ! have eaten today, | havI
no objection In telling you that Il is choco
late, sonor, para soryir a listed"
The reader may laugh at this ridiculou'
finale, but We wcTu assured by one Of tn
spectators that hone Of them wis No dis
posed at the time, ~ tragic Ms the intona
ton with which the stranger pronounced
in Spanish the word chocolate. IL neyc
wa known who this man was. When h,
retired, he was followed by many VIII
wished 20 crafty their curiosity on tina
point But on reaching the street h
Jumped into n carriage, which seemed 4
have been ~improyised for the occasion, an,
drove furiously away. That WA the Las
seen Of him In New Orleans. The Primo
Of Darkness was never better pc~rsonatcd
Was he Mophistophelesi
Tommy'- Explanation.
From the Washington Critic